Liriope’s Muse: Tree Care Tips from a Master Arborist

At Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc., we are not only tree experts — we are passionate advocates for responsible tree care and preservation. Led by a Board Certified Master Arborist, our mission is to protect both the health of your trees and your rights as a property owner.

Unfortunately, we've seen a growing trend that threatens both.

More and more, homeowners are being told by their insurance companies that their trees are "dangerous" or “too close to the home” — and are being forced to either remove or severely prune them. These decisions are often made with no on-site assessment and no understanding of tree biology, structural integrity, or the proper standards of care. In some cases, the insurer is simply trying to reduce their risk exposure without any real evaluation of the tree's condition.

And that’s where we step in.

The Problem: Insurance Overreach and Tree Misjudgment

Most insurance underwriters are not trained arborists. They may look at a leaning tree, a dead limb, or a canopy overhanging a roof and label the entire tree a liability. But without knowledge of species growth habits, root structure, decay assessment, and pruning response — they’re making judgment calls on living organisms that require expert evaluation.

Homeowners are left with a terrible choice: lose a healthy tree or risk losing their coverage.

The Solution: Expert Tree Risk Assessments by a Board Certified Master Arborist

At Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc., we approach tree safety with both science and ethics. Our assessments are based on ANSI A300 standards for pruning and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices. When we evaluate a tree, we don’t just look — we investigate:

• Species-specific characteristics
• Structural integrity and likelihood of failure
• Root health and soil conditions
• Canopy density, balance, and clearance
• Targets below — and actual risks

If a tree does need work, we prune it using industry-approved methods that preserve health and structure, not the excessive cutting or topping often requested by non-professionals. If the tree is truly hazardous, we’ll document why and explain your options.

The Result: Reports That Insurance Companies Respect

We don’t just provide verbal recommendations — we back them up with professional written reports. Our documentation can be submitted directly to your insurance company to prove that your tree does not pose an unreasonable hazard, or that it has been mitigated properly by a certified expert. In many cases, our reports have successfully convinced insurers to drop their removal demands and continue coverage without issue.

Trees Deserve a Fair Trial — Let Us Advocate for Yours

Trees are long-living, valuable assets to your property and your environment. They deserve to be evaluated by someone who understands them — not just someone looking at them through a liability lens.

If your insurance company is threatening your trees, call us first. We’ll provide the expert care, documentation, and advocacy needed to keep your landscape safe and your coverage intact.